A major new documentary exploring the life of one of Manchester’s greatest icons, Emmeline Pankhurst, was premiered in the very place where the campaign for Votes for Women began.

Over 400 guests packed into the former Free Trade Hall, now the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel, to watch the documentary which explores the extraordinary life story of the woman who spearheaded the Suffragette movement fighting for women’s right to vote.

Former Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay presents the documentary, and asks why so little is known about the personal story behind the world famous icon.

(Image: Rachel Joseph)

With the help of Emmeline’s surviving relatives, including her great-granddaughter Dr Helen Pankhurst, Sally delves deep into the archive to reveal Emmeline’s roots in radical Victorian Manchester.

The documentary takes a rare look behind the well-known image of the formidable face and the frilly blouse to uncover the personal story that transformed the girl from Moss Side inot the leader of an army of women willing to bomb post boxes, burn down buildings and die for the cause.

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Manchester actress Sally spoke at the premiere and said what a privilege it was to be involved in the project. But she said she found it incredible that no major documentary on Pankhurst has ever been filmed before.

She said: “I don’t know why we haven’t celebrated her more as a Mancunian hero before now actually. I think maybe people have always associated her more with London and forgotten her Manchester roots – hopefully this film will put that right.

Sally Lindsay presents the new BBC documentary Emmeline Pankhurst: Making of a Militant (Image: BBC)

“We were never taught about her at school, even growing up in Manchester, which is something I think should change. Her story should be on every school curriculum. But because I come from a long line of strong Mancunian women who are interested in politics, she was always being mentioned to me, and I was brought up made aware that this is where she came from.

"But I think, like most people, I knew of her as this iconic figure but nothing really about her as a person. Making this film has really opened my eyes to what a fascinating, amazing character she really was.”

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Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the founding members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), being arrested by police

The film was given an emotional and rousing reception by the 400 guests at the premiere on Wednesday night.

Among guests was Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who accepted Helen Pankhurst's challenge to now "make Manchester the leading UK city on gender equality".

Andy Burnham with Sally Lindsay at the premiere of the new BBC documentary on Emmeline Pankhurst (Image: Rachel Joseph)

The documentary combines historic archives with dramatic reconstruction, with actress Frances Tither embodying Emmeline to bring life to her story from early days in Moss Side, to her whirlwind love affair with legendary civil rights campaigner Dr Richard Pankhurst and on to becoming a modern mother who worked while bringing up her children.

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Filming on the documentary began on the 100-year-anniversary of some women winning the right to vote, although it took until 1928 for all women over the age of 21 to get the vote, a day sadly Emmeline did not live to see by a matter of weeks.

Making the new documentary has been a real passion project for Executive Producer Caroline Roberts-Cherry and Producer/Director Helen Tither, who both feel strongly about representing more female voices on TV.

Helen Pankhurst, Sally Lindsay, Helen Tither and Frances Tither at the former Free Trade Hall for the premiere of Emmeline Pankhurst: Making of a Militant (Image: Rachel Joseph)

Former Manchester Evening News women's editor Helen said: “With the centenary of some women getting the vote this year, it obviously feels like a significant moment to be looking again at Emmeline’s story.

"But, when I came up with the idea for the film, I actually couldn’t believe that more programmes hadn’t already been made. Her life story is so amazing, and she is such an internationally recognisable figure that I thought there must have been many many programmes made about her.

"But when I started researching it her great-granddaughter Helen Pankhurst told me there hadn’t been any documentaries on her personal life that she could remember at all. I just found that incredible that this amazing woman’s real-life story had never really been told on screen.

"So, I think it’s incredibly important that we tell it now and encourage people to think again about this figure whose name we all know but has so much more to tell us.”

Emmeline Pankhurst: Making of a Militant, will be shown on BBC One at 7.30pm on Friday, June 8.